On this page:
- What should you do with the advice or assessment?
- What do you need to do before you buy low cost assistive technology?
- What do you need to do before you buy high cost assistive technology?
We suggest you get advice before you buy any assistive technology.
This will make sure the item is right for you. If you buy the wrong assistive technology without getting advice we usually won’t pay for another item.
There is a range of skilled and qualified people who might be able to provide this information about your assistive technology.
We describe all those who can provide this advice as assistive technology advisors.
Assistive technology advisors
Assistive technology advisors can be:
- allied health practitioners. For example audiologists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, orthotists/prosthetists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists
- assistive technology mentors, who have a recognised qualification in assistive technology advice
- orientation and mobility specialists for the vision sector
- continence nurses
- rehabilitation engineers.
You’ll need to use the expertise of your assistive technology advisor to choose a safe and appropriate item.
Your assistive technology advisor will need to provide independent advice.
Sometimes your medical practitioner or specialist may have enough assistive technology experience to provide advice on what you need.
But they will usually refer you to another more experienced assistive technology advisor.
You might also need to get an assessment from an assistive technology assessor.
Assistive technology assessors are specialist assistive technology advisors.
They need to have a university or equivalent degree relevant for providing assistive technology assessments.
They also need to be working within the standards set by a professional registration organisation such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Allied health practitioners, nurse continence specialists, orientation and mobility specialists, and professional rehabilitation engineers all meet this requirement for their area of assistive technology expertise.
We will tell you what sort of advice you need before you buy your assistive technology.
To help you understand what you need to do, check out the fact sheet Understand assistive technology evidence, advice, assessments and quotes .
What should you do with the advice or assessment?
You can keep the advice or upload it to your NDIS myplace portal if the item is:
- low cost assistive technology
- mid cost assistive technology
You should send your quote and/or assessment to us at [email protected] if:
- it’s for high cost assistive technology
- if you need us to look at or accept a quote for a high cost item.